Vibratory pump



lApril 8, 1958 E. J. WEINFURT ETAL VIBRATORY PUMP Filed Dec. 9, 1955 l. |HI lum lum Im INVENTORS.

` ATTORNEY United States Patent() VIBRATORY PUMP Edward J. Weiufurt, St. Louis, Mo., Anthony Van Ryan,

Ocean Springs, Miss., and Leslie C. Westphal, Wau- Watosa, Wis., assignors to McGraw-Edison Company, a corporation of Delaware Application December 9, 1953, Serial No. 397,152 y 12 Claims. (Cl. 103-53) This invention relates to pumps and more particularly to pumps yof lthe type wherein a vibratory diaphragm functions as a piston.

Although fluid pumps having apertured pistons are not new, pumping apparatus of this type heretofore constructed utilized valve means for opening and closing the ports in the piston as it reciprocated. In certain prior art fluid pumps having a perforated piston, check valves were utilized to intermittently obstruct the ports, while in other known fluid pumping apparatus a flexible diaphragm member having perforations out of register with the apertures in the piston was caused to alternately press against the piston to obstruct the ports, and thus permit the fluid in front of the piston to be forced toward the outlet, and then to recede from the piston and open the'ports as the piston was reciprocated on the return stroke.

It is an object of the invention to provide a valveless fluid pump of the apertured-piston type.

It is 4a further object of the invention to provide a valveless, vibratory diaphragm pump which displ'acesl fluid through the use of orifices having a greater coeiiicient of discharge for the flow of fluid in one direction therethrough than in the opposite direction. A still vfurther object of the invention is to provide such a'pump in which the output volume of fluid discharged is readily adjusted.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a fluid pump which has no valves and is thus ideally suited to circulate cutting fluids, machine tool coolants, and other fluids carrying foreign matter.

In accordance with the invention, a hollow body having an inlet and an outlet is provided with a flexible diaphragm having a plurality of orifices therethrough. The orifices are shaped to have a greater coefficient of discharge from the inlet to the outlet side than in the opposite direction, and `driving means, preferably electromagnetic, are provided to vibrate the diaphragm. A member adjacent the outlet extending transversely of the hollow body is provided with a plurality of passageways which register with orifices in the diaphragm. The vibratory diaphragm and the member define a pumping chamber, and displacement of the diaphragm causes a greater volume of fiuid flow through the orifices in one direction than the other, thereby inducing a positive volume change in the pumping chamber `and forcing fluid out the passageways.

The above and other novel features of the invention will appear more fully hereinafter from the following detailed description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing. It is especially understood however, that the drawing is employed for purposes of illustration only and is not designed as `a definition `of the limits of the invention, reference being had for this purpose to the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation view of the preferred embodimentfof the invention immersed in the uid to be not limited to such configuration,` and equal efficiency in ICC actuated with the coil of the electromagnet shown in cross section;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view through the pump of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the invention having means for adjusting volume of fluid flow.

The preferred embodiment of the pump of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 is submerged in the uid to be actuated `and includes superposed congruent rings 10, 11 and 12 defining a generally cylindrical chamber 13. The outwardly flaring conical portion 14 of an outlet pipe 15 is secured by suitable means such as welding to an inwardly extending circumferential ange 17 on the ring 12. The rings 10 'and 11 engage the upper and lower peripheral marginal faces of a flexible diaphragm disk 18, preferably metallic, disposed transversely of the chamber 13. The rings 11 and 12 engage the upper and lower peripheral marginal faces of an annular member 19 having a smaller inner diameter `than the rings 11 and 12. A disk 22 extending transversely of the chamber 13 is secured to the annular member 19 in spaced relation to the diaphragm 18. The diaphragm 18 and the disk 22 define a pumping chamber for the fluid to be actuated. The rings 10, 11 and 12 Iare held together with the diaphragm 18 and the annular member 19 clamped therebetween by bolts 24 which also fasten a Ushaped bracket 26 in inverted position with the cross piece 27 thereof spa-ced relative to the flexible diaphragm 18.

Driving means for vibrating the diaphragm 18 axially of the cylindrical chamber 13 include an electromagnet 2 9 having a plurality of E-shaped laminations 30 of magnetic material clamped together and retained within a metallic frame 31 of Ushaped cross section by screws 32. A flange 33 at one end of the frame 31 is secured to the cross piece 27 of `the bracket 26 by `a screw 35. A horizontal flange 36 on the opposite end of the frame 31 is fastened by screw means 38 to a generally S-shaped bracket 39 which supports one end of the electromagnet 29. At its lower end the bracket 39 is axed against the ring 12 by a bolt 24.

An electrical coil 41 surrounds the middle leg, or pole piece, of the E-shaped electrom'agnet 29. An armature 43 includes a plurality of rectangular laminations 44 of magnetic material fastened by rivets 45 on `both sides of a rectangular strip 46 of magnetic material. One end of the armature 43 is pivoted about a pin 48 extending through the side Walls of the frame 31. A Ushaped connecting link 51 is alixed axially to the flexible diaphragm 1S by screw means 52. A pivotal connection between the armature 43 and the connecting link 51 is effected by pins 53 extending horizontally -from the strip 46 through 4apertures in the upper end of the legs of the Ushaped connecting link 51.

A plurality of orifices 60 4having a greater coefficient of discharge from the inlet to the outlet side than in the opposite direction are provided through the flexible vibratory diaphragm 18. In the preferred embodiment of the invention this differential coefficient of discharge is obtained by providing `a rounded, or belled, entrance 61 on the inlet side of the orifice 60 while the outlet side includes a tubular extension 63 in the manner of reentrant tube, or Borda mouth piece. The invention is not limited to the shape of orifice utilized in the preferred embodiment, but includes any orifice which exhibits different coefficients of discharge for flow of fluid in opposite directions therethrough. In the preferred embodiment the orifices 60 are arranged in a circle with equiangular separation therebetween, but the invention is pumping can be obtained with other arrangements of orifices 60.

Passageways 65 in register with the orifices 60 are provided through the disk 22. In the preferred embodiment the passageways 65 are identical to the orifices 60 in the vibratory diaphragm 18. Although the greatest power is delivered to the liquid and the greatest volume of liquid is pumped when the passageways 65 also have different coefhcients of discharge for fiow in opposite directions therethrough, the invention is not so limited and successful operation is obtained with passageways 65 of circular or other desired configuration through the disk 22 which have the same coefficient of discharge for tiow in opposite directions therethrough.

A brief theoretical discussion of analogies between the pumping action of the invention and hydraulic fiow is included in order to facilitate understanding of the greater coeliicient of discharge from inlet to outlet side of the orifices 60 and 65 than in the opposite direction. It is to be understood however' that the analogies are only theoretical and are not to be considered limiting in the manner of operation of the disclosed pump. It may aid the understanding of the pumping action to consider the loss of head at entrance to a pipe with the inlet side ofthe orifices 6i) analogous to a bellmouth type of pipe entrance while the outlet side is analogous to a reentrant tube. The greatest entrance loss is with a pipe that projects into a reservoir. Because of the greater curvature of the streamlines at the entrance to a reentrant tube, a greater contraction of the submerged jet occurs than for a pipe having a bellmouthed entrance. A reentrant tube has a relatively low velocity coefiicient due to the disturbed flow resulting from the contraction of the stream and its subsequent rcexpansion. The greater reexpansion causes more friction loss. The most desirable type of entrance is the rounded, or bellmouthed, entrance so formed as to eliminate all contraction of the fluid stream. This reduces the loss on entrance to nothing more than the normal friction. It is apparent that the displacement of the vibratory diaphragm 18 toward the inlet side is analogous to entrance of liuid to a bellmouth entrance pipe formed by orifices 6i). In a similar manner displacement of the vibratory diaphragm 18 toward the outlet is analogous to entrance of fiuid into a reentrant pipe.

From the above discussion it will be appreciated that the volume of fluid passing through the orifices 60 from inlet to outlet side, when the diaphragm is vibrated toward the inlet, is greater than the volume of flow from the outlet to inlet side when the diaphragm is vibrated in the opposite direction toward the outlet. The phrase coefiicient of discharge" is used in its usual sense in the specification and the appended claims to connote the actual rate of discharge through an orifice 60, when thc diaphragm is vibratcd, to the ideal rate if there were no friction or no contraction of the submerged stream. It will be appreciated that orifices 65 in the disk 22 having a greater coefficient of discharge from inlet to outlet side than in the opposite direction prevents return of as great a volume of iiuid into the pumping chamber from the outlet side, when the diaphragm 18 is vibrated toward the inlet, as that which is forced through the orifices 65 when the diaphragm 18 is displaced toward the outlet side. A positive displacement of fluid in a confined chamber is thus effected without the use of inlet and outlet valves.

It will also be apparent that efiicient pumping of liquid can be accomplished if the passageways 65 in the disk 22 are the only orifices having greater coefficient of discharge from inlet to outlet side than in the opposite direction, and the orifices 6l) in the vibratory disk 18 have the same coefficient of discharge for flow in opposite directions therethrough.

The mechanical energy imparted to the liuid, i. e., the volume of flow, can be adjusted by rotating the vibratory diaphragm 18 relative to the disk 22 and thus shifting the orifices in the vibratory diaphragm 18 relative to the passageways in the disk 22. Maximum mechanical energy is imparted to the fiuid when the orifices 60 and 65 are in exact alignment, and the Volume of fiuid pumped is reduced as the passageways 65 are moved out of registration with the orifices 6i?. It is intended that the word registration in the specification and appended claims cover any degree of correspondence of position of the orifices 60 and 65, that is, registration is intended to connote both exact alignment of the orifices 60 and 65 as well as when they only partially overlap Either the vibratory diaphragm 18 or the disk 22 can be rotated relative to the other to adjust the volume of fluid delivered by the pump.

In the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 3, adjustment of the volume of liquid pumped is accomplished by rotating the disk 22 relative to the vvibratory diaphragm 18 in order to vary the registration, i. e., the amount .of overlap of the orifices 65 in the disk 22 with the orifices 60 in the diaphragm 18. Two adjoining annular members and 81, substituted for the member 19 of the embodiment of Figs. 1 and 2, are clamped between the rings 11 and 12. The members 80 and 81 provide mounting for the disk 22 which rests within a circumferential groove 83 provided in the upper face at the inner periphery of the member 80 and is held between members 80 and 81. A radial arm 84 on the disk 22' fits within a clearance aperture 85 extending radially through the annular member 80. The width of the radial aperture 85 covers only a portion of the circumference of the annular member 80 and permits manual rotation of the disk 22 through a desired angle.

The driving means, including the electromagnet 29 and coil 41 for the vibratory system is preferably energized by alternating current at known frequency in order that the natural period of the vibratory system can be designed for resonance at that frequency or a multiple thereof. The vibratory system here involved comprises the flexible diaphragm 18, the connecting link 41, and the armature 43. When the coil 41 is energized with 60 cycle current, the reconsant frequency of the vibratory system is chosen as cycles per second for a particular pumping load.

When it is desired to pump iiuid, the coil 41 is connected to a suitable source of alternating current, thereby causing the rapid vibration of the diaphragm 18 which provides a smooth and substantial output flow of fluid. The volume of iiuid, as well as the pressure head, delivered by the pump can be adjusted as desired by varying either the number oforifices or the size of the orifices in the vibratory diaphragm 18 and in the disk 22. The volurne of iiuid pumped varies directly with the total area of the orifices 66 and increases as the orifices 60 are made larger. The pressure head delivered by the pump varies inversely as the total area of the orifices 60, i. e., increasing as the total orifice area is decreased.

Although the preferred embodiment is illustrated as immersed in the iiuid to be actuated, the pump of the inf vention operates with equal eiciency when the uid to be circulated tiows through an inlet pipe connected to the inlet side of the pump.

From the above description it will be apparent that the disclosed structure pumps fluid without valves and that no lubrication is required in the absence `of mechanical friction between parts. The flow of fluid is smooth and continuous and is readily adjusted. Solid particles in the fluid cause no damage. Starting is almost instantaneous and does not involve priming. Pumps employing the present invention are ideally suited to the circulation of coolants, pumping of fuels, and many other laboratory and industrial applications.

Though only a single embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto but .may be embodied' in various mechanical forms and combinations as may be desired. As various changes in construction and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art, reference will be had to the appended claims for a definition of the limits of the invention.

What we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A lluid pump comprising structure forming a chamber, a vibratory diaphragm forming one wall of said charner and provided with at least one inlet orifice therethrough having a greater coeiiicient of discharge from inlet to outlet side than in the opposite direction for pressing upon and retracting from iiuid in said chamber, said orifice being of substantially constant area irrespective yof whether said diaphragm is pressing upon or retracting from fluid in said chamber, said structure having at least one outlet passageway in register with and having approximately the same area as said oriiice, and means for vibrating said diaphragm.

2. A pump in accordance with claim 1 wherein said orifice has a bellmouthed entrance on the inlet side.

3. A pump in accordance with claim 2 further characterized in that the outlet side of said oritice includes a tubular portion extending away from said diaphragm.

4. A pump in accordance with claim l wherein said passageway is an orifice having a greater coefficient of discharge from inlet to outlet side than in the opposite direction.

5. A uid pump comprising a hollow body having an inlet and an outlet, a vibratory diaphragm extending transversely of said body and being provided with at least one oritice therethrough having a greater coeiiicient of discharge from inlet to outlet side than in the opposite direction, said orifice having a substantially constant area irrespective of the position of said diaphragm, a member extending transversely of said body spaced from said diaphragm and having at least one outlet passageway, said orifice being in register with said outlet passageway, said diaphragm and said member defining a pumping chamber within said hollow body, and means for vibrating said diaphragm thereby causing it to alternately press upon and retract from fluid in said chamber.

6. A fluid pump comprising a hollow body having an inlet and an outlet, a vibratory diaphragm extending transversely of said body and having a plurality of continuously open inlet orifices therethrough each having a greater coefficient of discharge from inlet to outlet side than in the opposite direction, a member extending transversely Y of said body spaced from said diaphragm and having a plurality of outlet passageways therethrough in register with said inlet orifices, said diaphragm and said member defining a pumping chamber within said hollow body, and means for vibrating said diaphragm thereby causing it to alternately press upon and retract from fluid in said chamber.

7. A fluid pump comprising a hollow body having an inlet and an outlet opening and means between said openings for actuating fluid in a direction from the inlet to the outlet opening, said means including a member extending transversely of said body adjacent said outlet and having a plurality of passageways therethrough, a ilexible sheet diaphragm adjacent said inlet extending transversely of said body in spaced relation to said member and provided with a plurality of orifices therethrough in 6 register with said passageways, each of said orifices having a substantially constant area irrespective of the position of said diaphragm and having a bellmouthed entrance on the inlet side and including a tubular portion extending away from said diaphragm on said outlet side, and means for vibrating said diaphragm.

8. A pump in accordance with claim 7 wherein said passageways are oriiices each having a bellmouthed entrance on the inlet side and including a tubular portion extending away from said member on the outlet side.

9. A pump in accordance with claim 7 and including means for moving said member relative to said diaphragm to vary the degree of registration of said orifices with said passageways.

10. A uid pump comprising a chamber having an inlet and an outlet, a flexible diaphragm extending transversely of said chamber adjacent said inlet and provided with a plurality of orifices therethrough, said orifices having a greater coeicient of discharge from inlet to outlet sides than in the opposite direction, a member spaced from said diaphragm adjacent said outlet extending transversely of said chamber and provided with a plurality of passageways therethrough in register with said orifices, means for moving said member relative to said diaphragm to vary the degree of registration of said orifices with said passageways, and electromagnetic` driving means for Vibrating said diaphragm.

11. Auid pump comprising a cylindrical chamber having an inlet and an outlet, a flexible diaphragm extending transversely of said chamber adjacent said inlet and provided with a plurality of orifices therethrough, said orifices having a greater coefcient of discharge from inlet to outlet sides than in the opposite direction, a disk coaxial with said chamber and spaced from said diaphragm adjacent said outlet and extending transversely of said chamber, said disk being provided with a plurality of orifices therethrough in register with said oritices in said diaphragm and having a greater coetlicient of discharge from inlet to outlet side than in the opposite direction, electromagnetic driving means for vibrating said diaphragm in a direction parallel to its axis, and means for angularly rotating said disk about its axis relative to said diaphragm.

12. A fluid pump comprising structure forming a chamber, a vibratory diaphragm forming one wall of said chamber and provided with a plurality of continuously open inlet oriiices therethrough each having a greater coeicient of discharge from inlet to outlet side than in the opposite direction for pressing upon and retracting from fluid in said chamber, said orifices being of substantially constant area irrespective of whether said diaphragm is pressing upon or retracting from fluid in said chamber, said structure being provided wtih an outlet passageway, and means including an electromagnet for vibrating said diaphragm.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 862,867 Eggleston Aug. 6, 1907 1,260,574 Pogue Mar. 26, 1918 FOREIGN PATENTS 278,634 Great Britain Oct. 13, 1927 371,076 France c of 1907 v850,942 France Dec. 29, 1939 

